Sedative bullet

ABSTRACT

A sedative delivering bullet assembly comprising: an outer casing member, at least a portion of which is collapsible; a fluid carrying vessel supported within the casing member, the vessel including fluid injection means; fluid means disposed within the casing member for movement in response to the collapse of the collapsible portion; and discharge means for coacting with the moving fluid means for discharging the vessel.

llnited States Patent Del hia June 28 1974 1 SEDATIVE BULLET 3,584,5826/1971 Muller 102/92 [76] Inventor: John B. Delphia, 5 Broadwater,

Coventry, Engla d Primary Examiner-*Robert F. Stahl a Feb 9 1973Attorney, Agent, or FirmMcGlynn and Milton [21] Appl. No.: 330,911 [57]ABSTRACT A sedative delivering bullet assembly comprising: an 102/92,outer Casing member at least a portion of which is [58] d mm 1]collapsible; a fluid carrying vessel supported within le r the casingmember, the vessel including fluid injection 56 R f Ct d means; fluidmeans disposed within the casing member I e erences I e for movement inresponse to the collapse of the col- UNITED STATES PATENTS lapsibleportion; and discharge means for coacting 2,617,359 1 1/1952 Van Horn etal 102/92 with the moving fluid means for discharging the vessel.3,386,381 6/1968 Ferb lO2/92 3,502,025 3/1970 Payne 102/92 14 Claims, 3Drawing Figures SEDATIVE BULLET This invention relates to a sedativeprojectile or bullet which is adapted for use in lieu of the moredestructive conventional ammunition.

Generally, devices of this type include a vessel for carrying a sedativefluid having a hypodermic needle attached thereto for allowing the fluidto pass from the vessel into the target. These elements are normally incorporated into a suitable structure or casing such that the completedassembly may be fired from a rifle or pistol.

Devices of this type have become popular in recent years in gamepreserves and the like where it is often necessary to capture wildanimals. Sedative devices have proven to be much safer for the gamehandlers and much more humane to the animals being captured. It has alsobeen contemplated to use such devices in the area of law enforcement toavoid the use of a fatal force to stop fleeing criminals. I-Ieretofore,none have found wide acceptance because they normally lack thedependability required in situations where the user is dealing withhuman targets rather than animals. To be effective, a device ofthis'type must have range and accuracy as well as the portability to becarried comfortably and employed rapidly.

In order to meet these requirements, the device should be made similarto a conventional bullet or cartridge and possess similar trajectorycharacteristics. In other words, the ideal situation would be that thesedative projectile device could be used interchangeably withconventional ammunition in the same fire arm.

The best teaching of a device of this type is disclosed in the US. Pat.No. 3,584,582 to Muller. However, due to the weight distribution of thevarious elements it is apparent that the projectile has a tendency totumble in flight and consequently the needle may not puncture thetarget, resulting in non-delivery of the sedative fluid.

It is, therefore, an object and feature of the instant invention toprovide a sedative bullet which includes an outer casing member, atleast a portion of which is collapsible; a fluid carrying vesselsupported within the casing member, the vessel including fluid injectionmeans; fluid means disposed within the casing member for movementinresponse to the collapse of the collapsible portion; and discharge meansfor coacting with the moving fluid means for discharging the vessel.

Other objects and attendant advantages of the instant invention will bereadily appreciated as the same becomes better understood by referenceto the following detailed description when considered in connection withthe accompanying drawings wherein:

FIG. 1 is a perspective view, partially broken away, of a-preferredembodiment of the instant invention;

FIG. 2 is a longitudinal, cross-sectional view of the instant inventionas shown in FIG. 1; and

FIG. 3 is a longitudinal cross-sectional view of the instant inventionof FIG. 2 striking a target.

Referring to the drawings, a sedative-delivering projectile or bulletassembly is shown generally at 10. The bullet includes an 'outer casingmember generally indicated at 12, at least a portion of which iscollapsible. The collapsible portion comprises a hollow nose portion 14which is made of a soft, collapsible rubber. The remainder of the outercasing is a substantially cylindrical shell 15 which is made of a stiffmaterial such as a hard plastic. The nose portion 14 is sealed to theforward part of the shell 15 by means of a ring 16 which locks a portionof the nose 14 into a circumferential groove 18 disposed in the forwardend thereof. The casing member 12 also includes an explosive chargemeans comprising a firing cap 20 for propelling the bullet 10. Anexplosive change means 20 may be of any conventional construction and,in this case, is a standard shotgun-type firing cap. The firing cap 20is mounted on an end of a cap member 22 which is threadedly disposedwithin the end of the shell 15 thereby sealing the end of the shell 15closed.

The bullet 10 further includes a fluid carrying vessel 24 for carrying aliquid sedative 26. The vessel 24 includes fluid injection meanscomprising a hollow needle 28. The hollow needle 28 is in the form of astandard hypodermic needle and provides a passageway for the injectionof the sedative fluid into the target. The vessel 24 is supported withinthe casing member 12 by means of a plurality of longitudinally extendingvanes 30 which support the vessel 24 in spaced relationship with theinterior of the casing member 12. It is contemplated that the shell 15of the casing member 12 and the vessel 24 may be formed by a singlemolding process which would also produce the vanes 30. This moldingprocess would simultaneously incorporate the hypodermic needle 28 in theassembly. The vessel 24 is provided with means for discharging thesedative liquid 26 from the vessel 24. The discharge means in cludes apiston member 32 which is slideably disposed within the vessel 24. Thepiston member 32 includes a sealing ring 34 for providing sealingengagement with the interior of the vessel 24 to prevent the sedativefluid 26 from escaping around the edges of the piston member 32.

Fluid means comprising a fluid 36 is disposed within the casing member12 and fills the volume surrounding the vessel 24 including the hollownose portion 14. The fluid 36 is one which has a relatively highspecific gravity; in other words, it may be best described as a heavyliquid or fluid the purpose for which will be hereinafter described.

The nose portion 14 of the bullet 10 also includes a guide member 38disposed at the apex thereof for permitting the needle 28 to passtherethrough. If the guide member 38 is not provided, the opening in theneedle 28 could possibly become plugged, thereby preventing thedischarge of the sedative fluid 26 from the vessel 24. A protective plug40 is also provided which protects the end of the needle 28 prior tousing the bullet 10. The plug 40 is adapted for removal immediatelyprior to using the bullet 10. The size of the needle 28 and the physicalcharacteristics of the heavy fluid 36 are such that the heavy fluid 36will not flow through the guide member 38 after the plug 40 is removed.

When the bullet 10 is fired and strikes an object, the nose portion 14collapses and the needle 28 is driven into a target 42 through the guidemember 38 as shown in FIG. 3. Thecollapsing of the nose portion 14simultaneously forces the heavy fluid 36 toward the rear of the casingmember 12 and the-resulting pressure forces the piston member 32forwardly. The forward motion of a piston member 32 forces the sedativefluid out of the vessel 24 and discharges it into the target 42 throughthe needle 28.

Thedesign of the bullet 10 is particularly advantageous because theheavy fluid 3 occupying the nose portion 14 of the bullet distributesthe weight such that the bullet 10 does not have a tendency to tumble.In other words, the front of the bullet 10 is slightly heavier than therear portion due to the heavy fluid 36 in the nose portion 14 andtherefore the nose portion 14 will lead during flight. Furthermore,supporting the vessel 24 on the longitudinal vanes 30 allowssubstantially uninhibited flow of the heavy fluid 36 from the noseportion 14 to the rear of the casing member 12 to move the piston member32.

Preferably the heavy liquid 36 is nontoxic and is adapted to lubricatethe needle 28 to aid the penetration thereof in the target 42.

The sedative delivering bullet assembly of the instant invention isreadily adapted for use by law enforcement agencies because it isdesigned to be quickly and easily substituted for standard ammunition ina conventional firearm. In the preferred embodiment the sedative bulletis particularly adapted for use in a shotgun-type weapon, however,changing the size and type of firing cap will readily provide a sedativebullet for other weapons such as hand guns. It is also noted that thesedative bullet is of a simple design and may be manufactured easily andinexpensively.

The invention has been described in an illustrative manner and it is tobe understood that the terminology which has been used is intended to bein a nature of words of description rather than limitations.

Obviously, many modifications and variations in the instant inventionare possible in light of the above teachings. It is, therefore, to beunderstood that the instant invention may be practiced otherwise than asspeciflcally described and yet remain within the scope of the dependingclaims.

The embodiments of the invention in which an exclusive property orprivilege is claimed are defined as follows:

1. A sedative delivering bullet assembly comprising: an outer casingmember, at least a portion of which is collapsible; a fluid carryingvessel supported within said casing member, said vessel including fluidinjection means; fluid means disposed within said casing member formovement in response to the collapse of said collapsible portion; anddischarge means for coacting with said moving fluid means fordischarging said vessel.

2. An assembly as set forth in claim 1 wherein said collapsible portioncomprises a collapsible nose portion dispoed on the forward end of saidcasing member.

3. An assembly as set forth in claim 2 wherein said nose portion is madeof a collapsible rubber material.

4. An assembly as set forth in claim 2 wherein said fluid injectionmeans includes a hollow needle member disposed on the forward end ofsaid vessel in communication with the interior thereat and within saidnose portion.

5. An assembly as set forth in claim 4 wherein said nose portionincludes a guide member for guiding said needle member.

6. An assembly as set forth in claim 5 wherein said nose portionincludes a plug member disposed within said guide member.

7. An assembly as set forth in claim 4 wherein said discharge means forcoacting with said moving fluid includes a piston member disposed withinsaid vessel.

8. An assembly as set forth in claim 7 wherein said piston memberincludes a ring seal for sealing engagement with the inner wall of saidvessel.

9. An assembly as set forth in claim 7 wherein said casing memberincludes support means for supporting said vessel therein.

10. An assembly as set forth in claim 9 wherein said support meansincludes a plurality of longitudinal vanes disposed between said casingmember and said vessel.

11. An assembly as set forth in claim 9 wherein said vessel contains asedative fluid.

12. An assembly as set forth in claim 11 wherein said casing memberincludes explosive charge means for propelling said bullet assembly.

13. An assembly as set forth in claim 12 wherein said casing memberincludes an end cap member for enclosing said casing member andsupporting said explosive charge means.

14. An assembly as set forth in claim 1 wherein said discharge meansincludes a piston member disposed within said fluid carrying vessel.

1. A sedative delivering bullet assembly comprising: an outer casingmember, at least a portion of which is collapsible; a fluid carryingvessel supported within said casing member, said vessel including fluidinjection means; fluid means disposed within said casing member formovement in response to the collapse of said collapsible portion; anddischarge means for coacting with said moving fluid means fordischarging said vessel.
 2. An assembly as set forth in claim 1 whereinsaid collapsible portion comprises a collapsible nose portion dispoed onthe forward end of said casing member.
 3. An assembly as set forth inclaim 2 wherein said nose portion is made of a collapsible rubbermaterial.
 4. An assembly as set forth in claim 2 wherein said fluidinjection means includes a hollow needle member disposed on the forwardend of said vessel in communication with the interior thereat and withinsaid nose portion.
 5. An assembly as set forth in claim 4 wherein saidnose portion includes a guide member for guiding said needle member. 6.An assembly as set forth in claim 5 wherein said nose portion includes aplug member disposed within said guide member.
 7. An assembly as setforth in claim 4 wherein said discharge means for coacting with saidmoving fluid includes a piston member disposed within said vessel.
 8. Anassembly as set forth in claim 7 wherein said piston member includes aring seal for sealing engagement with the inner wall of said vessel. 9.An assembly as set forth in claim 7 wherein said casing member includessupport means for supporting said vessel therein.
 10. An assembly as setforth in claim 9 wherein said support means includes a plurality oflongitudinal vanes disposed between said casing member and said vessel.11. An assembly as set forth in claim 9 wherein said vessel contains asedative fluid.
 12. An assembly as set forth in claim 11 wherein saidcasing member includes explosive charge means for propelling said bulletassembly.
 13. An assembly as set forth in claim 12 wherein said casingmember includes an end cap member for enclosing said casing member andsupporting said explosive charge means.
 14. An assembly as set forth inclaim 1 wherein said discharge means includes a piston member disposedwithin said fluid carrying vessel.